Assistant commandant among four CISF personnel killed in fratricide incident in IIOJK’s Kathua
Jammu: Four Indian Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, including an assistant commandant, were killed in an incident of fratricide inside a camp in Kathua district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The incident took place at around 7.30 p.m. at the Sewa-III hydroelectric power project located at Mashka village in Basohli, Indian officials said. The CISF personnel were deployed to guard the project.
Reportedly, Head Constable Abhidesh Kumar opened fire with his service rifle following an argument with some of his colleagues.
Four CISF personnel sustained critical injuries in the firing and later succumbed to their injuries at a nearby hospital, the officials said. The deceased were identified as Assistant Commandant Ankit Kumar Pandey, Sub-Inspector Lakshman Singh and constables Rafiq Ahmed and Sandeep Kumar.
Following the firing, Abhidesh Kumar was overpowered by his colleagues and subsequently arrested, the officials said. The service weapon used in the incident was also seized as part of the investigation.
Senior CISF and police officers rushed to the scene, while the exact circumstances that led to the argument and the subsequent firing were being ascertained, the officials said.
Further details were awaited.
Notably, incidents of suicide and fratricide among Indian forces’ personnel have repeatedly been reported in IIOJK, highlighting the difficult and stressful conditions in which they operate. Experts say prolonged deployments in politically disturbed and hostile environments, separation from families, limited opportunities for leave and demanding operational schedules can place considerable psychological and physical strain on personnel. They also point to the wide range of duties assigned to them, extending beyond routine security functions to law-and-order operations, election duties, security arrangements and prolonged counter-militancy deployments.
Workplace pressure, mistreatment or humiliation by senior officers, along with prolonged separation from loved ones, have also been cited in reports as factors that further compound mental stress among Indian forces’ personnel.
